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Nuclear arms race and Dentente
Nuclear Arms Race and Detente
In 1949, the Soviet Union developed nuclear weapons. in 1953, the Soviet Union and the US had developed hydrogen bombs. in 1972 and 1979 both sides had agreed to limit the amount of nuclear weapons they had. During the 1970's the Soviet Union had agreed to a detente or time of relaxed tension. In 1979, the era of the detente ended.
Jan 1 1949-Jan 1 1979 -
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Nato Warsaw Pact
in 1949 the U.S, Canada, and ten other countries formed a military alliance known as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization or NATO. members pledged to help one another if they were attacked. in 1955 the soviet Union Responded by forming there own military alliance called the Warsaw Pact. members of the Warsaw Pact included the Soviet Union and seven satellites in eastern Europe. -
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Nato Warsaw Pact part 2
members of the Warsaw Pact included the Soviet Union and seven satellites in eastern Europe. Unlike NATO the Warsaw Pact was often invoked by the Soviets to keep its satellites in order. The Warsaw Pact cemented the division of Europe in to Eastern and Western blocs. The east was controlled by the Soviets, were as the the west was controlled by the United States. -
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chinese civil war
By the end of WW2, the Chinese communists had gained control of much of northern China. After Japans defeat Communist forces led by Mao Zedong fought a civil war against nationalists led by Jiang Jieshi. Mao’s forces swept to victory and set up the Peoples Republic of China. the defeated nationalists fled to Taiwan, China was now under communist control. nationalist ideas lead to widespread economic hardship, -
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communist Cuba and missile crisis
Communist Cuba and Missile Crisis
In the 1950's Fidel Castro organised a rebellion against the Cuban dictator who was in control. In 1952 Castro led his army to victory and transformed the country. The transformation is known as the Cuban Revolution. In 1961 John F. Kennedy supported an invasion of Cuba which failed miserably. In 1962 the Soviet Union sent nuclear missiles to Cuba. In October 1962 the US blockaded Cuba. On October 28 1962 the Soviet Union removed the missiles. -
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Soviet Union falls
Even though the Soviet union came out of WW 2 as a major power, Stalin was still putting people in labor camps. The economy was bad, and people saw no improvement to their standard of living. The Soviet Union couldn't keep up in the arms race. Prices began to soar while shortages grew worse. It finally ended in 1991 when the Soviet republics formed 12 independent nations including Russia, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine. -
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Demands for Freedom Increase
in 1968 when Czechoslovakia’s defiance of Soviet Controlled led to Soviet Invasion, hungary quietly introduced modest economic reforms since it was loyal to the warsaw pact it was allowed to make these changes. But as time progressed Hungarians began to criticize the goverment then economic hardships led to even more discontent. and then 1988 and 1989 the communist government under severe pressure allowed greater freedoms and new political parties to form and its border with Austria. -
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demands for freedom increase part 2
Poland led the way in the new surge of resistance that shattered the Soviet satellite empire. in 1980 economic hardships ignited strikes that led to the formation of a labor union. east Germany had resisted Gorbachev’s call for change. however the people of east Germany could watch tv from west germany and were aware how much better they were doing. When Hungary opened its border with Austria thousands fled to west Germany. -
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Berlin wall
Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was a giant wall built by East Germany. The wall was built to stop people of East Germany escaping to West Germany. These people were fleeing because they were paid very little, and they wanted to escape communism. The wall was a huge barrier made of concrete, and topped with barbed wire. The wall was patrolled by guards at all times. The Berlin Wall successfully stopped citizens from fleeing East Germany, and went on to become a major symbol of the Cold War. -
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Soviets in Afghanistan
in 1979 the Soviet Union became involved with a long war with afghanistan when a Soviet supported Goverment tried to moderize the nation. its policies included social reforms and land redistribution that reduced the power of regional land lords who commanded armed men and warlords muslim conservatives charged that both policies threatened Islamic tradition when warlords took up arms Soviet troops moved in. -
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Soviets in Afhganistan
however trying to fight the Mujahedin in the mountains was difficult as fighting guerrillas in the jungles in Vietnam. and by mid 1980s the us began smuggleing weapons to the Mujahedin the Soviets had years of high casualties and high costs and few successes. was devastating for Soviet moral at home.